The Governor of the Uttar Pradesh acts as the head of the legislature and enjoys all executive, legislative and discretionary powers of the state.

The Vidhan Parishad (Legislative Council) or the Upper House is a permanent body not subject to dissolution.

Members are directly elected by citizens of the state on the basis of universal adult franchise representing assembly constituencies across the state.Every citizen of India who is over 18 years of age, irrespective of gender, caste, religion, or race and is otherwise not disqualified, is eligible to vote for members of the Legislative Assembly.

To be eligible for membership in the Legislative Assembly, a person must be a citizen of India and must be 25 years of age or older, mentally sound, should not be bankrupt, and should not be criminally convicted.

The constitution empowers the governor to summon each house at such intervals that there should not be more than a six-month gap between the two sessions.